Coupling device



ggm

A. F. GALLISON COUNJING DEVICE my L mm Filedauly 25 llllJnlllllnlHPMllUwllHHHHHu IAIIIII WITNESSES QQH A. F. QLLISON coUPLING DEVICE 2 Sheeta-Shee L 2 Filed July 25. 1923 Qms z QW Af vu. @wmf n. f

ATTO R N EY Patented .hay i, w24.

Price.

PAT T ABNER F. CALLISON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COUPLING DEVICE.

Application filed July 25, 1923. Serial No. 653,743.

vice, which is especially adapted for cou` plingr portable units or containers to railroad flat cars, automobile trucks or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved coupling device for this purpose, which will securely hold the container against lateral movement wheny loaded on the car or truck, and yet will readily permit the transfer of the container to or from suitable ramp tracks, which are provided at the warehouse or freight yard.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved retaining device, which will assist in the transfer of the portable unit to or from the ramp tracks, and which may be readily coupled to or uncoupled from the portable unit, while the latter is at any point on the ramp track, So that no exterior force is needed for the loading or 'unloading operation.

In carrying out my invention, I prefer to provide two couplers for each unit or container, the lat-ter being so constructed as to cooperate with the coupling members, and

snugly receive the same when loaded. The

principles of the invention, and the preferred structure .b v means of which they are carried out will be best understood from vthe following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a flat car with the unit containers being delivered to the ramp tracks.

of the container iloor in position to receive the same. l

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail view of a bottom plate to which the coupling is secured.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional View through the three-way valve or stop cock.

The numeral 10 indicates a railroad flat canot the usual construction, and adapted A to receive: for transportation a number of unit containers v11. These containers extend throughout the width of the car and may be of any length desired, but, as herein shown, they are ofsuitable size so that four unitsvmay be loaded onto one fiat car.' ln providing for the loading and unloading of the unit containers 11 any number of side tracks 12 may be provided, depending upon the volume of "business handled, and adjacent these tracks, there are provided ramp track beds 13 which support the ramp tracks 14, which slope downwardly at their forward ends, as shown at 15. The tracks 14 are arranged at either side ofthe tracks 12, and are in position to receive small spaced rollers"`16 which are journaled in either side of thek unit containers 11, and normally overhang the sides of the lat car when the container is loaded for transportation.

Each unit container is provided with a floor 17 which is secured to a plurality of I beams 18 or the like, and a plate 19 of sheet steel is riveted to the underside of the I beams. Midway between the ends of the container and near each side thereof, the plate 19 is provided with a circular opening 20 within which fits a steel plate 21, which is riveted to the plate 19 and to the adjacent I beams, as shown at 22. The steel plate 21 is provided with a central opening 23, the lower part of which is outwardly flared as at 24, so that it may be more easily engaged by the coupling member carried by the car.

The car 10 is constructed with a platform 25 supported in the usual manner by I beams 26 or the like, and in order to equip the car especially for receiving the unit containers it is provided with a number,` of cast steel tubular housings 27 suitably spaced, so as to register with the openings 23 to lock the unit containers in osition when loaded for transportation.' ach of the housings 27 is provided with an enlarged portion 28, adapted to be received between the I beams 26 to retain the housing in proper position, while the upper end of the housing is tapered las shown at 29, in order that the same may more readily engage and enter the opening 23. When the container has been loaded onto the car platform 25, the steel plate 19 will be in contact with the car platform while the upwardly projecting portion of the housing 27 will lit snugly within the opening 23 and reach upwardly to the undersurface of the door 17. .'When the container, however, rests upon the horizontal portion of the ramp tracks 14, the steel plate 19 will be abovethe upper end of the housing 27, so that the car may be readily pulled out from underneath the same.

The operation of the coupling member, which is used for transferring the unit container to and from the ware house platform, will now be described. For this purpose a heavy steel sleeve or pipe section 30 is slidably mounted within the housing 27 and is supported by a bottom plate 31 secured to the lower end of the housing 27 by screws 32, or the like. rThe bottom plate is provided centrally with a threaded boss 33, on which is mounted a cylinder 34 which is slightly spaced from the inner wall of the pipe section 30. rPhe cylinder 34 receives a iston 35, which normally rests upon the oss 33," and is provided with a stem or rod 36 adapted to telescope within a tubular member 37 supported centrally of a head 38, which is threaded to the upper end ofthe pipe section 30. .The tubular member 37 and stem 36 are surrounded by an enpansile coiled sprin 39, and the relative outward movement or the telescopingy members is limited by a head 40 'formed on the upper end of the stem 33, which is adapted to en gage the intur'ned dange 41 at the lower end ot the tubular member 37. The bottom plate 31 is provided 'centrally with a threaded opening 42, to which is connected a pipe 43 adapted to supply compressed air underneath the piston head 35 to raise the same, and thereby through the pressure of the spring 39 to project the pipe section 30 'and head 38, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. When the piston is thus actuated, the air within the. upper portion of the cylinder 34 is expelled between the outer wall of the cylinder the inner wall of the pipe section 30, and through ports 44 formed in the upper face or the bottom plate 31.. The upward movement of the piston head 35 is limited by a ring 45 threaded inside of the .upper end of the cylinder 34.

When the unit container is to be unloaded, compressed air isadmittedthrough the pipe 43 into the lower end of the cylinder 34, and the car is then shilted between a pair of ramp tracks 14. As the container is raised by the ramp tracks, the pipe section 30 is projected by the compressed air and follows the floor 17 of the container, engaging the side of the opening 23 to advance the container on the ramp tracks to the point desired. When the container reaches the desired position, the air pressure is removed from beneath the piston head 35 allowing the plunger to drop to the position shown in full lines in- Figure 4, w ereupon 4the car may be withdrawn. In loading lthe container, the car is moved underneath the same until the coupler is approximately beneath the opening 23 when the compressed air is turned on, and the plunger projected against the bottom of the container. The car is slowly moved until the plunger enters the opening 23. f The upper end of the plunger is tapered, as shown at 45, to facilitate the projection thereof and its engagement with the opening 23. is the container rides down the inclined portions 15 of the ramp tracks, the inclined portions 24 of the opening 23 are guided over the inclined edge 24 from the cylin er 34.

The compressed air, which is admitted through the pipe 43, may. be supplied from the air-brake system of the train. To this end, the pipe 43 is connected to a hose 46, which may be coupled to a similar hose on an adjacent car, or to the air-brake line on the same car, or it may be carried to the engine. Means must be provided at some point in the line for turning the air on or ed from the cylinder 35. By way of illus tration, l have shown a three-way valve or stop cock 47, which, as shown in detail in Figure 7,comprises a housing 48 within which is rotatably mounted a stem 49, controlled by e handle 50. A passageway l51 extends through the stem 49, and in the position shown in full Eines in Figure 7, admits the air to the pipe 43. if the stem be rotated 90 to the position shown in dotted lines, the outlet from the pipe 46 is closed, while the pipe 43 is exhausted through a port 52 which leads to the atmosphere.

From. the foregoing description, it will be seen that l have provided a coupling device which positively retains the several units against sidewise movement during transportation, and which may be conveniently operated to facilitate the transfer of the units to or from the ramp tracks. 'Ehe coupling device is also constructed so that .there are no projecting parts on the conspecific details of one construction in which t e invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this is merely illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without sacrificing any of the salient features of the invention as embodied in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Ina device of the character described, the `combination of a vehicle having a platform with fixed upstanding projections, a removable unit container normally resting on the platform and having sockets vreceiving said projections to prevent relative horizontal movement of said container, and a member optionally projectable vertically above each fixed projection to maintain the connection between the vehicle and the container as the latter is raised from the platform.

2. In a, device of the character described, the combination of a vehicle having a platform with fixed upstanding tubular housings, a removable unit container normally' resting' .on the platform and having sockets receiving said housings to prevent lateral displacement of said container, a member reciprocably mounted in each of said housings, and means for projecting said member above the housing to maintain engagement with the corresponding socket while the container is raised above the platform.

3. In a device of the character described, the rcombination of a vehicle having a platform with fixed tubular housings projecting upwardly therefrom, a removable unit container normally resting on the platform-and .having sockets receiving said housings to prevent lateral displacement of the container, a memberreciprocably mounted 1n each housing Iand normally held within the same by gravity, and means for yieldably projecting said'members above the housmgs to maintain engagement of said members with the sockets-while the ,container is raised above the platform.

4. In a device of the character described, the .combination oa vehiclehaving a platform with fixed' upstanding projections, a removable unit container normal/ly resting on the platform and having sockets receiving said projections to preventlateral displacement of said container, a member projectable vertically above each fixed projection tomaintain "the connection between the vehicle and 'the container whlethe latter is raised above the platform, and pneumatic means for controlling the position of said projectable member.

5. In a device'of the character described, the combination of a vehicle having a platform with fixed upstanding pro'ections, a removable unit container normally resting on the platform and having sockets for receiving said projections, a member optionally projectable vertically above each fixed projection to prevent lateral displacement of the container with respect to the vehicle when the container is raised from the platform, the mouths of said sockets and the terminal portions of said fixed projections and optionally projectable members being correspondingly tapered to facilitate theirinterengagement. l

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a platform having a fixed 'tubular housing projecting vertically from its surface, a sleevereciprocably mounted Within the housing, a cylinder mounted within the sleeve and secured in fixed relation to the housing, a piston operable in the cylinder and having'a connection with the upper end of said sleeve, and means for introducing fluid pressure underneath the piston to raise the same and project the sleeve above the tubular housing.

. 7'. In a device of the character described, thev combinationof a latform having a fixed tubular housing projecting vertically from its' surface, a sleeve reciprocably mounted Within the housing and having a tapered head closing its upper end, a cylinder mounted within and spaced from the sleeve and secured to the lower end of said housing, a piston operable in the cylinder and having a connection with the upper end of said sleeve, and pneumatic means for optionally raising the piston to project the sleeve above the tubular housing. f

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a platform having a fixed tubular housing projecting vertically from itssurface, a sleeve mounted for reciprocation within the housing and having a tapered head closing its upper end, a cylinder mounted within and spaced from the sleeve and' secured to the Alower end of said housing, a piston/'operablein the cylinder and having` a yielding telescoping connection with the head` of said sleeve, and means for introducing fiuid pressure underneath the iston to raise the same and yieldinglyproject the sleeve above the tubular housing.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a vehicle having a platf form with a fixed upstandingprojection, a unit container normally resting on lthe platform and-having a socket receiving said projection, and a memberb optionally pro- ]ectable above the ixed projection to maintain the connection between the vehicle and the container as the latter is raised from the platform. p.

10. The combination with a container provided with an opening having a flared porjectable above the upper end of the housing tion, of a vehicle having a, platform to sup- 1n the same opening, said member having a port the container, a fixed tubular housin tapered upper end. 10 projecting from the platform to engage sai In testimony that I claim the foregoing opening of the container, said housing havas my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signaing its upper end tapered, and a. movable ture.y member carried by the housing and pro- ABNER F. CALLISON. 

